Bridge Meadows promotes health and well-being across three generations by providing stable and permanent, adoptive homes for foster youth, supporting adoptive parents with resources and guidance, and helping elders retain meaning and purpose in their daily lives through positive social connection. We provide the infrastructure necessary to heal the trauma experienced by our youth; support adoptive parents, and connect elders to a caring community that values their wisdom and experience.

We have already begun to see what our stable, supportive, and inclusive community approach makes possible. Since welcoming home our first families and elders in 2011: 85% of our children have remained with the same caregiver, remained in the same school, and attended school regularly; 100% of our parents and elders have had stable, affordable housing; and 72% of our youth have been adopted or placed in permanent guardianships. Through these permanent placements, siblings have been able to remain together, and families receive the support they need to build a safe and stable future in which each member flourishes. It is estimated that such early intervention will save the public foster care system at least $1.3 million by the time these children turn 18, due to the termination of foster care payments.

The webinar will discuss the creation, implementation and operation of multigenerational communities with a social purpose. Lessons learned and visions for the future will also be discussed.